JP2000348562A - Key switching device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a key switch which is constructed thin and has satisfactory assembling efficiency. SOLUTION: First projections 2e and 3e, formed, at the coupling part 2b as one end of a first 2 and a second lever 3, are supported rotatably by support parts 1a and 1b formed on a key top 1, and second projections 2f and 3f formed at the other ends of the first 2 an the second lever 3 are held rotatably by a holding part 7a formed on a base board 7, and by using the first projections 2e and 3e at the other ends as a fulcrum, the first 2 and the second lever 3 are tilted in the same direction by pressing the key top 1 and its disengagement, and the key top 1 can be elevated and lowered between the elevating and lowering-position.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a key switch device, and more particularly to a key switch device suitable for use in a keyboard used as various input devices such as a personal computer and a word processor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIGS. 14 to 16 are for explaining the prior art of this type of key switch device. This key switch device has a key top 41 made of a synthetic resin, and has a key top 41 on its upper surface. Letters (not shown) such as alphabets are formed by printing. As shown in FIG. 14, a rotation locking portion 42 and a sliding locking portion 43 as locking portions are integrally provided with the key top 41 downward from the lower surface of the key top 1. . Then, the rotation locking portion 42
Is provided with a locking hole 42a, and the sliding locking portion 43 is formed with a locking hole 43a.

The guide support member 44 is composed of first and second link members 45 and 48 made of a synthetic resin material. As shown in FIG. 15, the first link member 45 has a pair of parallel members. The arm portion 46 and a connecting portion 47 for integrally connecting the pair of arm portions 46 are formed in a substantially U shape, and a locking pin 46a and a locking projection 4 are provided at both ends of each arm portion 46, respectively.
6b is provided so as to protrude outward, and a shaft hole 46c is formed at an intermediate portion of each arm portion 46 so as to face each other.

A second link member 48 has a hole 49a.
And a pair of arms 50 connected to one end of the base 49. At the tip of each arm 50, a locking projection 50a is provided to protrude inward. Also,
A pair of locking pins 49b are provided at the other end of the base 49, and a shaft 49c is provided at both sides of the base 49.

The first and second link members 4
5, 48 position the base 49 of the second link member 48 inside the pair of arms 46 of the first link member 45,
The shaft 49c of the base 49 is fitted into the shaft holes 46c of the pair of arms 46 so as to cross each other in an X-shape in a side view as shown in FIG. 14, and the cross formed by the shaft 49c and the shaft holes 46c The part 51 can be rotated mutually. Further, the locking projection 46b of the first link member 45 is slidably locked in the locking hole 43a of the key top 41, and the second link member 4
Eight locking pins 49b are rotatably locked in the locking holes 42a of the key top 41.

On the lower side, the substrate 52 is made of a metal plate. As shown in FIG. 15, a pair of slits 53a and 53b having a long hole shape are provided in parallel with each other, and the pair of slits 53a and 53b are provided. By projecting the flat portion between 53b upward from below, a sliding locking portion 54 having a locking hole 54a is formed.

The substrate 52 has a pair of slits 53.
A pair of slits 55a, 55b parallel to the slits 55a, 55b are provided at two-space intervals at positions separated from each other in the longitudinal direction of the pair a, 53b. Projecting into the locking hole 5
A rotation locking portion 56 having 6a is formed.

The locking pins 46 a of the first link member 45 are rotatably locked in the locking holes 56 a of the rotation locking portion 56, respectively, and are locked in the locking holes 54 a of the sliding locking portion 54. The locking projection 50 a of the second link member 48 is slidably locked, and the rotation locking portion 56 of the substrate 52 corresponds to the sliding locking portion 43 of the key top 41 by the first link member 45. The sliding locking portion 54 of the substrate 52 corresponds to the rotation locking portion 42 of the key top 41 by the second link member 48.

The membrane sheet 57 disposed on the substrate 52 is formed by sequentially laminating an upper sheet (not shown), a spacer, and a lower sheet in this order, and the lower surface of the upper sheet and the upper surface of the lower sheet. Are respectively formed with contact electrodes, and these contact electrodes are opposed to each other at a predetermined interval by the spacer.

The rubber spring 58 is formed in a dome shape from a rubber material. As shown in FIG. 14, an annular bottom 58a has a top 58c via a thin elastic wall 58b.
And a driving projection 58d is provided on the lower surface of the top portion 58c.
Is provided. The rubber spring 58 is disposed between the key top 41 and the membrane sheet 57 with an annular bottom 58a fixed to the surface of the membrane sheet 57 with an adhesive or the like. Then, the top portion 58c is inserted into the hole 49a of the second link member 48 and abuts on the lower surface of the key top 41, and cooperates with the guide support member 44 to form the key top 41.
At a raised position away from the substrate 52,
The drive projection 58d is in a state of being located above the position where the contact electrode of the membrane sheet 57 is formed.

In the conventional key switch device having such a configuration, when the operator presses the upper surface of the key top 41, the key top 41 is lowered from the raised position to the lowered position, and the first link member 45 is engaged. The stop projection 46b slides in the locking hole 43a of the sliding locking portion 43 in the direction of arrow G, and the locking pin 49b of the second link member 48 moves in the locking hole 42a of the rotation locking portion 42. Rotate, and at the same time,
The locking pin 46a of the link member 45 rotates in the locking hole 56a of the rotation locking portion 56, and the locking projection 50a of the second link member 48 locks the locking hole 54a of the sliding locking portion 54. Arrow G inside
Slide in the direction.

As a result, the first and second link members 45,
48 falls around the intersection 51 as a fulcrum, and the key top 4
1 is guided by the first and second link members 45 and 48 and descends downward. Then, the rubber spring 58 is pushed downward by the key top 41, and the buckling of the elastic wall portion 58b causes a click feeling.
As shown in the figure, the key top 41 is located at the lowered position and is close to the substrate 52, and the driving projection 58d is
7 is pressed to enter the switch-on state.

When the pressing force applied to the key top 41 is released in this state, the rubber spring 58 returns to the original dome shape by the elastic force of the elastic wall portion 58b, and the key top 41 is pushed upward. Then, the locking projection 46b on the key top 41 side of the first link member 45 slides in the locking hole 43a of the sliding locking portion 43 in the direction of arrow H, and the second link member 48 is engaged. The stop pin 49b rotates inside the locking hole 42a of the rotation locking portion 42. At the same time, the locking pin 46a of the first link member 45 on the substrate 52 side rotates in the locking hole 56a of the rotation locking portion 56, and the locking projection 50a of the second link member 48. Are locking holes 54a of the sliding locking portion 54.
In the direction of arrow H.

As a result, the first and second link members 45,
48 rises while rotating around the intersection 51 as a fulcrum,
The key top 41 moves up and returns to the initial position. Further, the membrane sheet 57 is switched off since the contact electrode of the upper sheet is separated from the contact electrode of the lower sheet. In recent years, such a key switch device has been used particularly in portable personal computers and the like, and a demand for a thinner device has been increasing in order to make it easier to carry.

[0015]

However, in the conventional key switch device as described above, the key top 41 is not provided.
Each link member 4 is operated by an operation force for pressing the link member 4.
The first link member 45 is provided with a thickness X below the locking projection 46b, and the second link member 48 is provided with a thickness of the locking projection 50a so as not to cause deformation or breakage of the locking projections 50a. The thickness Y was provided on the upper part. Therefore, it has been difficult to reduce the thickness of the conventional key switch device.

Also, the first and second link members 45, 48
Even if the thicknesses X and Y are eliminated by solving the problem of rigidity of the above, a sliding member for slidably supporting the locking projection 46b of the first link member 45 is provided on the key top 41 side. Stop 4
Since the key 3 is formed, when the key top 41 is lowered, the lower end surface of the sliding locking portion 43 comes into contact with the surface of the membrane sheet 57, which is an obstacle to the thinning of the key switch device. Was. Also, the first and second link members 45,
48 are assembled in an X-shape, which complicates assembly and increases the cost of the conventional key switch device. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a thin, low-cost key switch device with good assembling efficiency in order to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art.

[0017]

As a first means for solving the above problems, a key switch device according to the present invention comprises:
A key top held up and down on the substrate, an elastic member for urging the key top upward, first and second levers holding the key top up and down with respect to the substrate, A membrane sheet that performs a switching operation in accordance with the elevation of the keytop, wherein one end of each of the first and second levers is rotatably supported on a support portion formed on the keytop and formed on the substrate. The other end portions of the first and second levers are rotatably held by a holding portion, and the first and second levers are moved in the same direction with the other end portions as fulcrums by pressing and releasing the key top. And the key top can be moved up and down between a raised position and a lowered position.

As a second means for solving the above-mentioned problems, the first and second levers each have a pair of arms and a connecting portion for connecting the pair of arms. It is formed in a U-shape, the one end portion is constituted by the connecting portion, and the connecting portion is supported by the support portion of the key top.

As a third means for solving the above-mentioned problems, the first and second levers each have a projection projecting outward from the connecting portion, and the projection is formed by the projection. The first and second levers are adapted to be snap-engaged with a support portion to support the first and second levers on the key top.

As a fourth means for solving the above-mentioned problem, the substrate is made of a metal plate, and the holding portion has a tongue whose one side is released by cutting and raising a part of the substrate and bending. The first and second levers are formed in the shape of a piece, and the first and second levers are provided with a protrusion projecting in a direction orthogonal to the arm at the other end, and the protrusion is provided from one of the released sides of the holding portion. The first and second levers are attached to the substrate by fitting.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the substrate is made of a flat metal, and the holding portion on the substrate side has a through hole formed by punching a part of the substrate. A protrusion formed on the end face of the through hole and protruding inward, a recess is formed at each of the other ends of the first and second levers, and the recess is fitted into the protrusion, The first and second levers are attached to the substrate.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the first and second levers are formed so that at least one of them extends from the other end in a direction opposite to the connecting portion. Having a stopper portion, wherein when the key top is at the rising position, the stopper portion contacts the surface of the membrane sheet or the surface of the substrate to regulate the rising position of the key top. did.

Further, as a seventh solution for solving the above-mentioned problems, the membrane sheet is sandwiched between the substrate provided above and a back plate provided below the substrate. The first and second levers are configured so as not to protrude from the back plate to the lower surface when the other end is attached to the substrate.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, the key top has a flange protruding outward from an outer peripheral portion. Is provided with a restricting member which can be contacted, and the restricting member restricts the ascending position of the key top.

As a ninth solution to solve the above-mentioned problem, the regulating member has a plurality of guide portions for guiding the elevation of the key top.

[0026]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a key switch device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. First, a key switch device according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. First, a key top 1 formed from a synthetic resin such as an ABS resin is disposed above. I have. The outer shape of the key top 1 is substantially trapezoidal by molding, and the lower part is open. In addition, letters (not shown) such as alphabets are formed on the upper surface by printing. A pair of support portions 1a for rotatably supporting a first lever 2 to be described later and a support portion for rotatably supporting a second lever 3 to be described below are provided on the lower surface of such a key top 1. 1b are formed to protrude downward. Grooves 1c and 1d are formed in each of the support portions 1a and 1b so that the entrance is narrow and the back is wide.

[0027] A first device disposed below the key top 1
And the second levers 2 and 3 are made of a resin material and have a pair of arms 2a and 3a, respectively.
a, 3a are formed in a U-shape having connecting portions 2b, 3b which are one ends. The first lever 2 is provided with a circular pressing portion 2c for pressing an elastic member 4 described later, which is formed integrally with the connecting portion 2b, at a portion sandwiched between the pair of arms 2a. A positioning portion 2d for positioning the elastic member 4 is formed at a central portion of the pressing portion 2c so as to protrude downward.

The first and second levers 2 and 3 are formed with first protrusions 2e and 3e, respectively, which are formed from protrusions protruding outward from the connecting portions 2b and 3b as the other ends. The first protrusions 2e, 3e are snap-engaged with the grooves 1c, 1d of the support portions 1a, 1b of the key top 1 to support the first and second levers 2, 3 on the key top 1. ing.
That is, the first portion is formed on the support portion 1a1b formed on the key top 1.
And one ends of the second levers 2 and 3 are rotatably supported.

Each of the first and second levers 2 and 3 has a pair of protrusions projecting from the other ends of the arms 2a and 3a in a direction orthogonal to the arms 2a and 3a. Second protrusion 2
f, 3f are provided. A sponge-like elastic member 4 made of urethane rubber or the like, which urges the key top 1 upward through the first lever 2, is disposed below the pressing portion 2 c of the first lever 2. . The elastic member 4 is formed in a cylindrical shape and has a positioning hole 4a at a central portion.
The positioning portion 2d of the pressing portion 2c of the first lever 2 is fitted into the positioning hole 4a to position the elastic member 4 so as not to move forward, backward, left and right.

A click spring 5 is provided below the elastic member 4. The click spring 5 is made of a thin metal plate such as stainless steel, is formed in a dome shape, and when the key top 1 is pressed, the elastic member 4 contracts, and the click spring 5 is pressed and inverted. A click feeling is generated in the key top 1. The click spring 5 is formed integrally with a flange portion 5a at a peripheral portion thereof, and the flange portion 5a is bonded to a switch portion 6a of a membrane sheet 6 described later with an adhesive tape (not shown). It has become.

The membrane sheet 6 for fixing the click spring 5 is formed by sequentially laminating an upper sheet (not shown), a spacer and a lower sheet, and a predetermined gap is formed between the upper sheet, the spacer and the electrode on the upper sheet side. A switch portion 6a is formed so as to face the electrode on the lower sheet side. Further, at a predetermined position of the membrane sheet 6,
A plurality of square holes 6b are formed, and the membrane sheet 6 is placed on the substrate 7 in a state where a holding portion 7a of the substrate 7 described later is positioned in the square holes 6b.

Further, a substrate 7 made of a metal plate is provided at the lowermost portion of the key switch device of the present invention. A plurality of holding portions 7a protrude or are cut and formed on the substrate 7,
It is in a state of projecting from the surface of the substrate 7 by a predetermined amount. The holding portion 7a is formed with holes 7b into which the second protrusions 2f, 3f, which are the other ends of the first and second levers 2, 3, respectively, can be fitted. Then, the second protrusion 2 which is the other end of the first and second levers 2 and 3 is inserted into the hole 7b of the holding portion 7a.
By fitting f and 3f, the first and second levers 2 and 3 are rotatably held on the substrate 7. Also, by pressing and releasing the key top 1,
A second projection 2 in which the first and second levers 2 and 3 are the other ends
The key top 1 is tilted in the same direction with f and 3f as fulcrums, and the key top 1 can be moved up and down between the raised position and the lowered position by the elastic force of the elastic member 4. As shown in FIG. 4, even when the first and second levers 2 and 3 are tilted, the first and second levers 2 and 3 do not overlap each other, as shown in FIG. It has become.

Next, the first embodiment of the present invention constructed as described above will be described.
The method of assembling the key switch device according to the present embodiment will be described. First, the square hole 6b of the membrane sheet 6 is aligned and mounted on the holding portion 7a of the substrate 7. Then, the holding unit 7
a protrudes above the membrane sheet 6 and the holes 7
b is exposed from the membrane sheet. The click spring 5 is adhesively fixed on the switch 6a of the membrane sheet 6 in this state. Next, the second protruding portions 2f, 3f, which are the other ends of the pair of arms 2a, 3a of the first and second levers 2, 3, respectively, are manually spread outward, and the second Protrusion 2
f, 3f are fitted into the holes 7b of the holding portion 7a. By this operation, the second protrusions 2f, 3f, which are the other ends of the first and second levers 2, 3, are rotatably held by the holding portion 7a.

Next, the elastic member 4 is positioned between the pressing portion 2c of the first lever 2 and the click spring 5, and the first lever 2
The elastic member 4 is positioned on the click spring 5 by fitting the positioning portion 2 d of the elastic member 4 into the positioning hole 4 a of the elastic member 4. Next, the second protrusion 2f held by the substrate 7
The support portions 1a and 1b of the key top 1 are aligned with the first protrusions 2e and 3e of the first and second levers 2 and 3 that are tilted in the same direction with 3f as a fulcrum, and the first protrusion 2e , 3e
Are snap-engaged with the support portions 1a and 1b to support the first and second levers 2 and 3 on the key top 1.

The operation of the key switch device thus assembled according to the first embodiment of the present invention is as follows. When the operator presses the upper surface of the key top 1 at the raised position shown in FIG. The key top 1 descends in a state parallel to the substrate 7. As the key top 1 descends, FIG.
As shown in the figure, the first and second levers 2 and 3 are tilted in the same direction, and the first and second levers 2 and 3 respectively
And become substantially parallel. At this time, the pressing portion 2 c of the first lever 2 presses and compresses the elastic member 4, and the elastic member 4 is compressed by a predetermined amount, so that the click spring 5 is inverted, and the key top 1 has a click feeling. The generated and inverted central portion of the click spring 5 is connected to the switch portion 6a.
Is pressed, the upper and lower electrodes (not shown) of the membrane sheet 6 come into contact, and the switch section 6a is turned on. Then, the outer peripheral portion of the key top 1 comes into contact with the surface of the membrane sheet 6, and the downward movement of the key top 1 stops,
The key top 1 is in the state of being located at the lowered position.

When the pressing force applied to the key top 1 is released in this state, the elastic member 4 returns to its initial shape by its own elastic restoring force. When the elastic member 4 returns to the initial shape, the first lever 2 rotates upward with the second protrusion 2f as the fulcrum as a fulcrum, and the connecting portion 2b as one end raises the key top 1 upward. Push up. Then, the inverted click spring 5 is restored to the original shape, and the switch 6a is switched.
Is turned off. Then, the key top 1 also moves to the ascending position in the initial state by the upward movement of the connecting portion 2b.
As the key top 1 moves upward, the second lever 3
The connection portion 3b is also pulled upward and moves at the same time, so that the key top 1 is parallel to the substrate 7.

Further, in the first embodiment of the present invention, the holding portion 7a of the substrate 7 has been described as being formed by the protruding process as shown in FIG. 1, but as a modified example, as shown in FIG. By cutting and raising a part of the substrate 17 and bending,
A tongue-shaped holding portion 17a with one side opened may be formed. In order to hold the second lever 3 in such a holding portion 17a, for example, the second protrusion 3f of the second lever 3 is required.
The first and second levers 2 and 3 are mounted on the substrate 17 by simply inserting
It can be attached to. With such a structure, the operation of expanding the pair of arms 3a outward as described in the first embodiment becomes unnecessary, and the assembling efficiency is improved.

FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment of the present invention.
A description will be given based on FIG. Components having the same configuration as in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description is omitted. First, as shown in FIG. 6, the key top 1 is disposed above, and the first and second levers 12, 13 disposed below the key top 1 respectively include a pair of arm portions 12a,
13a, and is formed in a U-shape having connecting portions 12b, 13b connecting the pair of arms 12a, 13a. The first lever 12 has a circular pressing portion 12c for pressing the elastic member 4, which is formed integrally with the connecting portion 12b, at a portion sandwiched between the arm portions 12a. At the center of the holding portion 12c, a positioning portion 12d which projects downward to position the elastic member 4 is formed so as to protrude.

The first and second levers 12 and 13 are
The first projecting outward from the connecting portions 12b and 13b respectively
Projections 12e, 13e are formed, and the first projections 12e,
The first and second levers 12 and 13 are supported by the key top 1 by snap-engaging the support 13e with the support portions 1a and 1b of the key top 1, respectively. Also, the first
And the second levers 12 and 13 are connected to the arm 12 which is the other end.
a, 13a, at the end of each dish fir-shaped recess 12f,
13f is formed. The recesses 12f and 13f are cut on the lower side to have a substantially semicircular shape as shown in FIG.

On the upper part of the membrane sheet 16, a flat substrate 17 made of a metal plate is provided. A part of the substrate 17 is punched into a rectangle to form a through-hole 17a, and the through-hole 17a provided at an end face of the through-hole 17a is formed.
A protrusion 17b protruding inwardly is formed with a semicircular tip. The holding portion for holding the first and second levers 12 and 13 on the substrate 17 side is constituted by a projection 17b. A hole-shaped spring positioning portion for restricting the play of the click spring 5 and for positioning the click spring 5 on the switch portion 16a is provided on the substrate 17 in the portion of the membrane sheet 16 where the switch portion 16a is located. 17c is formed.

A back plate 8 is disposed below the membrane sheet 16, and the membrane sheet 16 is held between the upper substrate 17 and the lower back plate 8. The membrane sheet 16 and the back plate 8 have projections 17b serving as holding portions for the substrate 17.
The holes 8a and 16b are formed in the portions where are located, respectively. When the recesses 12f, 13f of the first and second levers 12, 13 are attached to the protrusion 17b of the substrate 17, the outer peripheral portions of the recesses 12f, 13f are positioned in the holes 8a, 16b.

In the second embodiment of the present invention, when the first and second levers 12 and 13 are attached to the substrate 17, the recesses 12 f and 13 f at the other ends are connected to the back plate. Since it is configured not to protrude from 8 to the lower surface side, it is possible to reduce the thickness.

The third embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS.
A description will be given based on FIG. Components having the same configuration as in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description is omitted. First, as shown in FIG. 8, the first lever 22 has a stopper portion 22g that extends from the second protrusion 22f, which is the other end, in the direction opposite to the connecting portion 22b, and is shown in FIG. As described above, when the key top 1 is at the raised position, the stopper portion 22g comes into contact with the surface of the membrane sheet 6. As described above, the stopper portion 22g abuts on the surface of the membrane sheet 6 so that when the key top 1 is released from being depressed, it is possible to regulate the ascending position of the key top 1 to be always at a constant position. It has become.

For this reason, even if the height of the elastic member 4 or the click spring 5 varies, the ascending position of the key top 1 can always be regulated without variation. In the description of the third embodiment of the present invention, the stopper portion 22g is provided on the first lever 22 side, but the stopper portion 22g is not limited to the first lever 22 but may be any one of the second levers 3. One or both may be formed. That is, the first and second levers 22 and 3 may have at least one of the stoppers 22g. Further, in the third embodiment of the present invention, the stopper 22g is described as being brought into contact with the surface of the membrane sheet 6, but the portion of the membrane sheet 6 where the stopper 22g is located is notched. , Stopper part 2
2 g may be in contact with the surface of the substrate 7.

Further, as a fourth embodiment of the present invention,
As shown in FIGS. 11 to 13, the key top 11 is provided with a flange portion 11 c protruding outward from the outer peripheral portion. Outside the outer periphery of the key top 11, a plate-shaped regulating member 9 to which the flange 11c can abut when the key top 11 is at the raised position is disposed. This regulating member 9
Is provided with a number of square hole-shaped guide portions 9a corresponding to the number of the plurality of key tops 11, and the guide portions 9a are formed such that the shape of the regulating member 9 formed slightly larger than the key tops 11 is formed in a lattice shape. Is formed. For that, Key Top 1
When 1 is in the raised position, the outer periphery of the key top 11 is surrounded by the guide 9a. In the key switch device according to the fourth embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12, when the key top 11 is at the ascending position, the flange 11c abuts on the regulating member 9 and the plurality of key tops 11 The ascending position can be regulated without variation, and the ascending positions of the plurality of key tops can always be secured at the same height.

The tapered outer peripheral portion of the key top 11 is also raised at the raised position by the square hole-shaped guide portion 9a.
It is possible to guide to some extent, key top 11
Back and forth and left and right at the ascending position can be suppressed. In addition, by applying a predetermined color to the surface of the regulating member 9, a three-dimensional appearance of the thin key top 11 can be obtained, and the thin key top 11 can be made thicker. In addition, it is possible to give a sense of quality by giving a shape design to the surface of the regulating member 9.

[0047]

According to the present invention, one end of each of the first and second levers is rotatably supported by a supporting portion formed on a keytop, and the first and second levers are supported by a holding portion formed on a substrate. The other end of the lever is rotatably held, and the first and second levers are tilted in the same direction with the other end as a fulcrum by pressing and releasing the key top, and the key top is raised. Since it is possible to move up and down from the position to the lowering position, the first and second levers do not need to be combined in an X-shape as in the related art, and a key switch device with high assembling efficiency can be provided.
Also, the first key top or the first
The second lever and the second lever can be rotatably supported or held, and there is no sliding portion having a large thickness as in the related art, so that a key switch device that can be made thin can be provided.

The first and second levers each have a pair of arms and are formed in a U-shape having a connecting portion for connecting the pair of arms, and one end is formed by the connecting portion. The first and second levers are easily handled at the time of assembling, and the assembling efficiency is improved.

Further, the first and second levers each have a projection projecting outward from the connecting portion, and this projection is snap-engaged with the support portion to thereby form the first and second levers. Is supported by the key top, so that a key switch device with high assembling efficiency can be provided.

Further, the substrate is made of a metal plate, and the holding portion is formed in a tongue shape with one side opened by cutting and raising a part of the substrate and by bending, and the first and second levers are formed. Is provided at the other end with a protrusion protruding in a direction orthogonal to the arm, and the first and second levers are fitted by fitting the protrusion from one of the released sides of the holding portion. Since the first lever and the second lever are attached to the substrate, workability when the first and second levers are incorporated into the substrate is improved.

The substrate is made of a flat metal,
The holding portion on the substrate side is configured by a protrusion protruding inward of the through hole provided on an end surface of a through hole formed by punching a part of the substrate, and the first and second levers are provided. A concave portion is formed in each of the other end portions, and the concave portion is fitted into the protrusion, and the first and second levers are attached to the substrate. This eliminates the need for complicated processing, thereby reducing the number of substrate processing steps. Further, since the substrate is flat, handling during transportation is easy.

Further, the first and second levers have at least one of the stoppers extending from the other end in the direction opposite to the connecting portion, so that the key top is in the raised position. At one time, the stopper portion contacts the surface of the membrane sheet or the surface of the substrate,
Because the position of the key top was regulated,
The ascending positions of the plurality of key tops can be set at the same height without variation.

Further, the membrane sheet is sandwiched between the substrate disposed above and a back plate disposed below the substrate, and the first and second levers are connected to the other end. Is mounted on the substrate so as not to protrude downward from the back plate, so that the first and second levers do not protrude downward from the back plate and can be reduced in thickness. Equipment can be provided.

Further, the key top has a flange protruding outward from an outer peripheral portion, and a regulating member which the flange can contact when the key top is at the raised position is provided. Since the rising position of the key top is regulated by the member, the rising position of the key top can be regulated more reliably. Further, by applying a color coating or a pattern to the regulating member, it is possible to give a thin key top a three-dimensional appearance.

Further, since the regulating member has a plurality of guide portions for guiding the ascending and descending movement of the key top, it is possible to regulate the variation in the front, rear, left and right positions of the key top at the ascending position.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a main part of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a main part when the key top of FIG. 3 is at a lowered position.

FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view showing a modification of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a main part according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a main part of FIG.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of a main part when the key top of FIG. 9 is at a lowered position.

FIG. 11 is a plan view of a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view of a main part of FIG. 11;

13 is a cross-sectional view of a main part when the key top of FIG. 12 is at a lowered position.

FIG. 14 is a sectional view of a main part of a conventional key switch device.

FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken along the line 15-15 in FIG. 6;

FIG. 16 is a sectional view of a main part of a conventional key switch device when a key top is located at a lowered position.

[Description of Signs] 1 Key top 1a, 1b Supporting part 2 First lever 2a Arm 2b Connecting part 2c Pressing part 2d Positioning part 2e First protruding part 2f Second protruding part 3 Second lever 3a Arm part 3b Connecting part 3e First projection 3f Second projection 4 Elastic member 4a Positioning hole 5 Click spring 5a Flange 6 Membrane sheet 6a Switch 6b Square hole 7 Substrate 7a Holder 7b Hole 8 Back plate 9 Regulator 9a Guide

Claims (9)

[Claims] A key top which is held on a substrate so as to be able to move up and down, an elastic member which urges the key top upward, and first and second parts which hold the key top so as to be able to move up and down with respect to the substrate. And a membrane sheet that performs a switching operation in accordance with the elevation of the key top, and rotatably supports one end of the first and second levers on a support formed on the key top, The other ends of the first and second levers are rotatably held by a holding portion formed on the substrate, and the first and second levers are moved by the pressing and releasing of the key tops. The key switch device is tilted in the same direction with a fulcrum as a fulcrum so that the key top can be moved up and down between a raised position and a lowered position. 2. The first and second levers each have a pair of arms and are formed in a U-shape having a connecting portion for connecting the pair of arms, and the one end is connected to the connecting portion. The key switch device according to claim 1, wherein the connecting portion is supported by the support portion of the key top. 3. The first and second levers each have a protrusion projecting outward from the connecting portion, and the first and second levers are snap-engaged with the support portion to form the first and second levers. 3. The key switch device according to claim 2, wherein said lever is supported by said key top. 4. The substrate is made of a metal plate, and the holding portion is formed in a tongue shape with one side released by cutting and raising and bending a part of the substrate, and the first and second levers are provided. Is provided at the other end with a protrusion protruding in a direction orthogonal to the arm, and the first and second levers are fitted by fitting the protrusion from one of the released sides of the holding portion. 4. The key switch device according to claim 1, wherein the key switch device is attached to the substrate. 5. The substrate is made of a flat metal, and the holding portion on the substrate side has a protrusion protruding inwardly of the through hole provided on an end face of a through hole punched and formed in a part of the substrate. The first and second levers each have a recess formed at the other end thereof, the recess is fitted into the projection, and the first and second levers are attached to the substrate. The key switch device according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein 6. The first and second levers have at least one of a stopper portion extending from the other end portion in a direction opposite to the connecting portion, and the key top is at a raised position. 5. The method according to claim 2, wherein said stopper portion abuts on a surface of said membrane sheet or a surface of said substrate to regulate a rising position of said key top. 5. The key switch device according to 5. 7. The membrane sheet is sandwiched between the substrate disposed at an upper portion thereof and a back plate disposed at a lower portion thereof, and the first and second levers are connected to the other end portion. 6. The key switch device according to claim 5, wherein the key switch device is configured so as not to protrude from the back plate to the lower surface side when attached to the substrate. 8. The key top has a flange protruding outward from an outer peripheral portion, and a restricting member to which the flange can abut when the key top is at a raised position is provided. 8. The key switch device according to claim 1, wherein a rising position of the key top is regulated by a member. 9. The key switch device according to claim 8, wherein the restricting member has a plurality of guide portions for guiding the up and down movement of the key top.